LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Xew Zealand's expenditure on the var to the end of December was ';H.027.752, including .-£0,087,288 pay md allowances, .-£3, l] 1,734 transport of troops, £1,722,303 equipment. A't the Egmont County Council meeting yesterday, Cr. Macßeynolds stated that lie knew land in the Opunake district that was valued at 3/(1 per acre twenty-one years ago, and at last valuation, two years ago, .this was reduced to 3/-.

At Monday's meeting of the Xew Plymouth Borough Council, the tender of Charles Kyngdon for the supply of 3000 vards, more or less, of boulder metal, at l/fi per cubic yard, the" metal to be depositedi 150 feet from the river, was accepted. The Council also decided to extend the drainage system along Gaine Street.

When the Xew Plymouth Boys' High School opened on Monday, the'number of boarders was 08, a's compared with s "i when the school commenced last year. The total number of boys attending the school this year is -2"0,' showing an increase on last year's figures. The Taranaki Education Board has received a grant for the erection of a second grade school at Finncrty Road. The plans for the school, which will accommodate 35 children, are being prepared, and tenders will probably be called for the work.

Constable TTngh Blaikie, of Xew Plymouth, is on the list of those drawn in the ballot published to-day. This must have been the result of a mistake, for Constable Blaikie is a reservist in the Second Division, having been married -everal months prior to the outbreak o< the war. He is one of four brothers, one of whom was killed in action. Two others are on active service.

"I think some of those gentlemen who play bowls could 'be Detter employed l in making cases in which to pack parcels for the ni-n at the front," said the Mayoress (Mrs. c. H. Burgess), when addressing the meeting of the Women's Patriotic League last evening. ■ The supply of eases, she said, was exhausted, and oases would have to be made. The material could be supplied. A number of handy men were required to make them, and if they would come forward their services would be appreciated.

To-day is the 53rd anniversary of the Uncling of 505 militarv settlers at New Plymouth in 1804. 'T?.c settlers, who were commanded by Captains Penueiiithcr and Percival, were enlisted at Melbourne, and each private was subsequently given 50 acres of land and two township sections. Many of these settlers lire still alive, among them being Mr. •J G. Roeh, who was horn in Dahme, Prussia, in 1838; Ho left Germany in ISoij, and enlisted in Melbourne in 1863 One of his sons is at the front, and another has been drawn in the recent ballot. To-day is also the anniversary, the 48th, of the White Cliffs massacre."

WOOD-MILNE TYRES ARE MILES AHEAD IN THE LONG URN.

_ When you consider that Wood-Jlilne Tyres carry a definite guarantee cf 3500 miles their economy and goodness will be at once apparent. Moreover, you owe it as a, duty towards our Empi.'e to use Wood-Milne Tyres in preference to foreign makes, because Wood-Mibes are British, and are made with t'uit thoroughness which characterises British methods. So help British workers—keep British cash within the Emoire by specifying Wood-Milne Tyrol ,' Write for details to your garage or \ 2. Depot, 1(17 Vivian Street, Wellington, 16

The relation of the cinematograph to the education of children is to be considered by a special committee set up by tins Wellington Board of Education. It is understood that no less than three well known Hawko's Bay land-owners arc shorlly to be called upon to explain why they failed to register themselves for military service as required by the War Regulations Act.—li.B. Herald.

A group of great sunspots is Hearing the middle of the sun, and may be easily seen with the naked eye if protected by looking through smoked glass. The length of the group is approximately !10,00(1 miles, breadth about 80,0(10 mile., Auroras and magnetic disturbances m.tv be expected.

During a most touching portion of the rhapsody of "The Sentimental Bloke" al Napier (here was a considerable sensation at the rear of the Princess Hall, which gradually spread throughout the audience. The recital, says the Telegraph, was stopped for a time, and a tight royal mouse limit ensued, in which all joined with elan. The demise of the mouse took place suddenly. Two visitors from Sydney have recently been in Masterton. In conversation with an Age representative they were both emphatic in the statement that the daylight saving experiment is a complete failure 1 . The opinion is very generally entertained that the first experiment in putting back the hands of the clock will be the last so far as Australia is conterncd.

A serious visitation of caterpillars is reported from country districts, says the Auckland Sar. Tn flic To Awamuin district large areas of growing crops have been so badly eaten by the pest that the green stulf is in many cases worthless and is being ploughed into the soil. Poultry, it is said, have become so gorged by this unusual supply of meat food that they are getting 100 lazy to lay eggs.

"Have you got nil the labor you want," n big squiittor in Hawke's Bay was asked the other (lay. "Oh, yes," he replied. "I've got four girls out there, and we get along all right." This'was shown by the fact that the girls do the mustering" an.l two of them had taken 1000 lambs on a three- day trip, "and they did a jolly sighf belter than drovers," was the praise of the pleased squatter bestowed ufjon them.

During a matinee at the Empire Picture Theatre, Te Awamatu, on Saturday afternoon, a film ignited, and soon dense clouds of smoke came from the onertor's box l . The alarm sounded, and the fire brigade was soon on the scene. The fire spread to (lie roof of the building, which could be seen through the interior ventilations to be abhi/.c. but prompt action soon had the outbreak in check Only one spool of film was burnt, though the biograph machine and operator's box were very badly seorc/ied. '['lie damage to the roof is unknown, but it is not considered serious. The audience behaved calmly and there was no panic.

The following passage is from a letter written by Lord Khondda to the editor of the Economist:—ln your issue of last week you describe as a "remarkable statement'' my expression of opinion that "no man ought to be allowed to make .. profit out of the war." . . I see nothing remarkable in my statement, or anything meriting the wide •currency which the Economist and other newspapers have- given to it; on the contrary, I thought 1 was giving utterance to a commonplace to which every right-thinking llian must necessarily subscribe. I cannot conceive anyone seriously arguiitg that it is right and just to compel one iv.au to go to the front and risk his life in the defence of the Empire, and at the same time to allow his fellow to remain comfortably at home and make a profit out of the necessities of the nation.

Mr. James Douglas, of Waikari, in convtrsation with a reporter, expressed an opinion that the time iins come when tlie Government', should take defmiti-. steps to help soldiers whose affairs re. quire attention during the men's absence in the ranks. He had been informed that some country residents called up were being badgered by bargain-hunters—he called them sharks—who wore trying t» seize the soldiers' country properties at the absurd prices which forced sales dictated. He described that kind of tiling as a public scandal. He thought that the best means of prevention was to give the power of trustees to county councils or empower the councils to select Trustees from private persons residing in districts in which the soldiers' properties were situated. In the towns and cities, he added, the same principle might be applied in a slightly different way, to meet the different conditions.

The Empress Eugenie has turned a win" of her mansion, Fnmborough Hall, into a hospital for wounded British oflieers. On an average 150 officers can be treated there, even though each one is provided with a separate room, which is furnished as what Australians know as a "bed-sittingroom." Her Majesty, who is in her 01st year, bougnt Far'nborough Hall over thirty years ago, and ha 3 gathered around her objects of great historic interest. The inspection of these form one of the chief pleasures of her convalescent guests. From the grounds, which comprise over 200 acres, most lovely views of the surrounding counties of Surrey and Hampshire are obtainable, while from the lawn can be seen the Benedictine Abbey, which the Empress had built as a memorial to Napoleon JIT. and the Prince Imperial, whose remains are buried in a crypt beneath the chancel. The Empress has erected revolving huts in the beautiful park, whioh can be adjusted to catch the elusive English sun, so that the wounded occupants will benefit from its healing influence, while escaping the chilly winds which so often accom" psny its presence in England.

The hostesses for Friday's patriotic lea in Rahotu Ball will lie Mcsdamcs A. Chapman, A. Harvey, Hopkins, and Tyrell.

The public are asked to be prepared for the Melbourne, Ltd.'s, great stocktaking sale, commencing on Friday, Kith inst. Many bargains of a useful character have been assembled, and these, together with genuine reductions of regular stock, will result in one of the greatest saies ever held.

There is only one SANDER EXTRACT, and that is why the people reject the many inferior and harmful substitutes and just as goods. SANDER'S EXTRACT is free from the objectionable qualities of the common eucalyptus. Sander's Extract cures all infectious diseases, all winter ailments, ulcers, burns, sprains, eczema, etc. Insist on the GENUINE SANDER'S EXTRACT.

EVERYBODY'S DRINKING IT! What? GREEN G.IXGER. A pure, wholesome and refreshing drink for sensible people. A TRIAL WILL CONVINCE. A tablespoonful to a large tumbler of water. 50 drinks to the bottle. 1/0 per bottle; all grocers. Order to-day from your grocer! You* will bo sati*fi<uL

Writing to tlio Chairman of the Taranaki County Council yesterday, Messrs. Sludden- and Palmer, county engineers, stated that the plans for the repairs of the Waiwakaiho bridge have been forwarded to the resident engineer of the Public Works Department', Stratford, fa;- his approval. In the meantime the work of excavating for the foundation!) of the abutments was being gone on with, with the resident engineer's eonsent. Messrs. gladder. and Palmer said (hey conferred with the borough engineer when preparing the plans, and notified him that when they were completed they would be sent to the Public Works Department for approval, and, when returned, would be submitted to him. When the matter of payment of the Hospital Board levy was before the Egnionl, County Council yesterday Cr. Wright asked if there was any power liv which the Council could obtain lists of defaulters to the hospital, and. ;f L.he names proved to be those of persons able to pay, then the Council should hold back its levy until they had paid op. Cr. MacßeynohU, as, a member of the Hospital Board, said that these list? ■vere available to members of the Board. I.a--t lime he saw the list £3OO was owing by Egmont residents. He did not think that any good purpose would bp served by circularising the names of those who were unable to pay, but if there were any that members knew could pay, steps would be taken to make them pay. Cr. Wright stated that he had been aske(v by a large ratethat he had been asked by a large rateunderstood that when the secretary had approached one woman, she said' that they could not pay r.t present, as her hu-band had just purchased a motorcar.